Geranium plant named ‘Clips Whitspla’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Clips Whitspla’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and rounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with many flower umbels per plant; and flower umbels with numerous white and red purple bi-colored single flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Pelargonium×hortorumcultivar Clips Whitspla.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commercially known asa Zonal Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ClipsWhitspla’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program isto develop new Zonal Geranium cultivars with good basal branching,freely flowering habit and attractive flower and foliage coloration.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in April, 2000 of a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selectionidentified as code number 8553-1, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar BFP-1700, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,397, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivarClips Whitspla was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in September, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Gilroy,Calif., since September, 2000 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Clips Whitspla’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Clips Whitspla’ as a new and distinctGeranium cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded growth habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit with many large flower umbels per        plant.    -   5. Flower umbels with numerous white and red purple bi-colored        single flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Geranium differed from plants of the female parent selection in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had single flowers whereas plants        of the female parent selection had semi-double flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of thenew Geranium differed from plants of the male parent, the cultivarBFP-1700, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous than plants of        the cultivar BFP-1700.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium had lighter green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar BFP-1700.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Americana WhiteSplash, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,317. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geraniumdiffered from plants of the cultivar Americana White Splash in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium had darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the cultivar Americana White Splash.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Geranium were more open in form        than flowers of plants of the cultivar Americana White Splash.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Geranium had smaller red purple        spots than flowers of plants of the cultivar Americana White        Splash.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Clips Whitspla’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflower umbels and leaves of ‘Clips Whitspla’.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly fromthe color values cited in the detailed botanical description whichaccurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Clips Whitspla have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in afiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with daytemperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C.and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for thephotographs and description were about six months from planting rootedcuttings. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Clips    Whitspla.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection            identified as code number 8553-3, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar BFP-1700,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,397.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 14 days at 24° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at 18 to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright, outwardly spreading and rounded            growth habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and very freely basal            branching with about 12 lateral branches. Pinching, that is,            removal of terminal apices, is typically not required.        -   Plant height to top of foliage.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 32 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 46 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 20 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Internode length: About 2 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            146D.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 6.8 cm. Width: About 11.5 cm. Shape: Reinform with            slight rounded lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Truncate to            cordate. Margin: Crenate. Venation: Palmate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Velvety; pubescent; somewhat leathery.            Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 147B. Fully developed foliage, upper            surface: Darker than 147A. Fully developed foliage, lower            surface: 146A. Venation, upper surface: 146A. Venation,            lower surface: 146B. Petiole: Length: About 14 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and type.—Single rounded flowers arranged            in hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage. At full flowering,            usually about 16 open and developing umbels per plant.            Flowers not persistent; umbels persistent. Flowers not            fragrant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.            Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Umbels.—Height: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 13 cm. Number of            flowers and flower buds per umbel: Very freely flowering,            about 44. Flower diameter: About 4.75 cm. Flower depth            (height): About 3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: 155D with venation, 57A.        -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals in a single            whorl. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire;            slightly ruffled. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;            satiny. Aspect: Upper two petals, reflexed; lower three            petals, slightly cupped. Color: When opening, upper surface:            More white than 155D; spots/splotches, 57A. When opening,            lower surface: More white than 155D. Fully opened, upper            surface: More white than 155D; spots/splotches, 57A to 57C;            venation, 155D and 60B, that is, similar to petal color.            Fully opened, lower surface: More white than 155D; venation,            57A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single            whorl; not imbricate on open flowers. Length: About 1.2 cm.            Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14.5 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Angle: About 30° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Erect to about 90° from            vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: About five            per flower. Anther size: About 1 by 2 mm. Anther shape:            Oval. Anther color: 48B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: 31A. Gynoecium: Pistol quantity: One per flower.            Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted,            star-shaped. Stigma color: 39C. Style length: About 4 mm.            Style color: 39C. Ovary color: 138B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Pelargonium has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Clips Whitspla’,as herein illustrated and described.